As I was getting ready for work one day, I watched a morning show that included a report about the top three U.S. summer travel destinations. One is Washington, D.C. – and Bishop International Airport is ready to help travelers get there with ease. Southwest Airlines out of BIA offers non-stop service from Flint to the Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport in Baltimore MD., just a hop, skip and a jump away from our nation’s capital. Along with several local media personalities – Steph Barber and Rod Prahin of CARS 108, Stephanie K of CK105.5, Jason Cooper of WFNT, Bill Gilmer of Radio First – I took an offer from Bishop Airport to take a whirlwind trip to Washington D.C. to experience just how easy it is to get there on Southwest! I was very excited for the opportunity, as I lived and worked in D.C. and was ready to take a trip down Memory Lane. Our day began very early on Wednesday, May 21, meeting at 4am for breakfast at the airport. Patricia Corfman, Bishop Airport Marketing and Public Relations Director and Autumn Perry, Assistant Director hosted the trip along with Southwest Airlines team Leader, Karla Haibel.
I’m sure many of you in the area already know how easy it is to fly from BIA, conveniently located off Bristol Rd. near the expressway. I can get to Bishop in just 15 minutes, compared to an exhausting hour-long drive in traffic to Detroit Metro. Our flight left the ground at 6:10am, arriving at the Baltimore/Washington Airport at 7:40. Southwest Airlines is known for its entertaining and humorous flight attendants and we were not disappointed by the crew on our plane. They clearly enjoy their jobs and their enthusiasm adds to the experience, putting passengers at ease. We were greeted by BWI Marketing Manager, Amy Brathurst, who escorted us to DuClaw Restaurant, a favorite local eatery and brewery. BWI Manager of Communications, Jonathan Dean, escorted us to our destination in Washington, D.C.
Our group took a shuttle bus from the airport to the train station where we took the MARC train to Union Station. Located on Massachusetts Ave.,Union Station is the major train station, transportation hub and leisure destination in D.C. and is visited by 32 million people a year. The station is the perfect gateway to our nation’s capital, with its gleaming marble floors, historical structure, and its many restaurants and boutiques. There were even a few pigeons flying around. From there, we met with Congressman Dan Kildee (D-MI) and his communications director, Mitchell (Mitch) Rivard who gave us a tour of Dan’s office at the Cannon House and the Capitol. Mitch, who is from Bay City, was happy to greet his fellow Michiganians.
The weather was perfect for our tour of D.C. Thousands of tourists from all over the country waited in long lines and security checkpoints to view the legislative process at the Capitol. Of course, one day wasn’t nearly enough to see all the museums, monuments and sites and by mid-day, our hungry group was ready to head for the hotel and eat. We stayed at the eclectic and modern Helix Hotel, located near Dupont Circle and in walking distance to the White House. We enjoyed a delicious lunch at Logan’s Tavern, just blocks away from the hotel. The picturesque area is bustling with activity, sidewalks filled with tourists visiting gallerias, cafes and shops and office workers in sneakers making their way to work.
After having a few free hours to walk around the city, our group ended the day at a beautiful Spanish tapas restaurant, the Barcelona Wine Bar & Restaurant which is located in the heart of Logan’s Circle, the city’s busiest arts and dining scene. Mitch joined us after a long day of working in Kildee’s office, sharing his experiences of living and working in the Capitol, which took me back to my Washington days. We enjoyed an amazing meal and spirited conservation.
This was truly a whirlwind trip, as we were scheduled to leave D.C. the next morning. We were up early to catch a shuttle from the hotel to BWI, which was just an hour away. Met once again by Jonathon Dean, we got a tour of the BWI concourse and observation gallery. Having grown up in Maryland, I wasn’t leaving the state without enjoying one of my favorite foods, an authentic Maryland crab cake. My new friends joined me at Obrycki’s, a well-known Baltimore crab house and we indulged in the tasty East Coast delicacies before boarding the plane. After a short 90-minute flight, we landed back at Bishop Airport. I, for one, had a great experience traveling with Southwest Airlines from Flint – with some really great traveling companions who I now consider my friends!
My City thanks Southwest Airlines and Bishop International Airport for this exciting media opportunity.
PHOTOS COURTESY OF AUTUMN PERRY AND TRACI TURNER
